Hinged lock for connecting antenna rod to boom



March 26, 1963 F. J. KLANCNIK HINGED LOCK FOR CONNECTING ANTENNA ROD TOBOOM Filed April 17, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 In I/e rzla rw 5 17i ffflazzczz t/r.

March 26, 1963 F. .1. KLANCNIK 3,083,

HINGED LOCK FOR CONNECTING ANTENNA ROD TO BOOM Filed April 17, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 2 I 0. w 5d j 52 #0 73 UZ 3.935 7 I United tates Theimproved foldable antenna structure comprising the present invention hasbeen designed for use primarily as an outdoor television antenna of thevery high frequency (VHF) type as currently exemplified by channels 2through 13, and television antennas of the ultra high frequency (UHF)type as currently exemplified by channels 14 through 83, as well asantennas which are of the combination VHF and UHF type. The inventionis, however, capable of other uses and antennas constructed according tothe principles of the present invention are capable of use in connectionwith radio installations of either the broadcasting or receiving typeand including the audio and frequency modulation type. Irrespective ofthe particular use to which the present invention may be put, theessential features thereof are at all times preserved.

It is among the general objects of the invention to provide a foldableantenna structure which is capable of being manufactured at the factoryas a completely assembled package-type unit which may be shipped to thefield in a folded condition wherein it consumes but little space, andthereafter, erected or installed at the scene of operations by merelymounting the unit, while still in its folded condition, on the antennamast, and thereafter unfolding the structure of the unit and snappingthe component parts thereof into positions which have been predeterminedfor them by the provision of novel detent mechanism in associatedrelation with the structure.

Antenna assemblies are currently being sold in the form of kits whichmust be assembled in the field, i.e., at the scene of the installation.Where rooftop antennas are concerned, an installation is usually made byfirst erecting the mast and subsequently installing the actual oroperative antenna components upon the erected mast. This involves theplacement of such hardware as nut and bolt assemblies, thumb screws andthe like and, frequently, as, for example, when cold or inclementweather prevails and the operator is wearing gloves, these items ofhardware are dropped so that it is necessary for the operator todismount and retrieve them. Where the antenna components are furnishedin separated condition, printed directions are not always explicit and,apart from the time spent in studying such directions, improperinstallations with reversed components frequently result.

A limited number of antenna assemblies having foldable antenna,reflector, and other components have recently appeared on the market,some of them having detent means for maintaining the components in theirproper extended positions. Such antennas, however, em ploy anchoringbolts which must be passed through aligned holes to maintain the detentmeans locked, such detent means functioning only as temporary locatingand holding means which are effective only until the locking meanssupersedes them. From the manufacturers point of view, the mountings forboth the pivotal connections and the detent means must be designedespecially for each angle involved. The connections for a 90 positioningof the parts will not serve for any angle other than 90. Thus, specialtools, dies and fixtures are required for each angle involved.

The present invention is designed to overcome the above-notedlimitations that are attendant upon the construction and use ofconventional antenna structures which are supplied in kit form forerection in the field and,

atent @iiice 3,083,044" Patented Mar. 26, 1963 toward this end, itcontemplates the provision of a foldable, preassembled, package-typeantenna unit which is entirely devoid of extraneous hardware and inwhich the various components thereof, when folded, assume positions ofparallelism wherein they consume but little space, yet which may beextended so that they will assume prede termined acute angles withrespect to one another.

The provision of an antenna structure of the type or characterheretofore mentioned being among the principal objects of the presentinvention, it is a further object to provide such a structure whereineach foldable component of the assembly has associated therewith its ownindividual pivot connection whereby it may be pivotally connected to anadjacent element or member in the assembly for purposes of foldingmovement or extension thereof, as well as having its own individualdetent means for maintaining it in its extended position. According tothe present invention, the pivot connection and detent means are thesame in each instance, regardless of the angle or angles involved whenall of the components are extended. By such an arrangement, themanufacturer may assemble antenna structures of widely varying types byselecting the pivot connections and detent means from identical stock,thereby effecting a considerable savings in manufacturing costs.

Another and specific object of the invention is to provide in a foldableantenna structure a self-locking pivot connection by means of whichvarious antenna and reflector components may be pivotally connected tothe antenna boom, or to some other element or member associated with theassembly, as, for example, an insulating head, the connection beingcomprised of but three parts, two of which are in the form of smallsheet metal stampings and the other of which is in the form of a shortlength of fiat leaf spring stock.

Still another object of the invention is to provide in a foldableantenna such a pivot connection wherein the selflocking feature outlinedabove is in the form of a detent means which is positive in its actionso that it may not be disabled inadvertently or accidentally, as, forexample, by the force of the wind after an installation has beencompleted.

A still further object of the invention is to provide such a detentmeans which is efiective not only to maintain the various antenna andreflector components in their extended positions, but which also iseffective to maintain them in their collapsed or folded positions sothat the folded antenna structure may be easily handled, as, forexample, after it has been unpacked and is being carried to a rooftopfor installation.

The provision of a foldable antenna structure which is extremely simplein its construction, is comprised of relatively few parts over and abovethe normal antenna components, and, therefore, may be manufactured at alow cost; one which is rugged and durable and, therefore, will withstandrough usage; one which, although provided with positive detent lockingmeans as briefly outlined above, is capable of manual release whendesired for purposes of dismantling the antenna installation; and onewhich otherwise is well-adapted to perform the services required of it,are further desirable features which have been borne in mind in theproduction and development of the present invention.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this timeenumerated, will be apparent from a consideration of the followingdetailed description.

In the accompanying two sheets of drawings forming a part of thisspecification, one illustrative embodiment of the invention has beenshown.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front top perspective view of a foldable 3 antenna structureembodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective bottom view of the frontportion of the antenna structure of FIG. 1, the view being taken in thevicinity of the pivotal connections between the antenna componentsproper and an insulating head which is employed in connection with theinvention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged bottom perspective view similar to FIG. 2 buttaken in the vicinity of the pivotal connection between the reflectorcomponents and the boom at the rear of the structure;

P16. 4 is a fragmentary bottom plan view of the folded or collapsedantenna structure;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view similar to FIG. 2, butinverted, and showing a modified form of antenna structure.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and in particular to FIG. 1,the invention has, for illustrative purposes, been disclosed inassociation with an outdoor television receiving antenna structure ofthe conical type, the particular disclosure being purely exemplary sincethe present invention is equally well-adapted for use in connection withother types of antenna structures, such as folded dipole, single channelor wide band yagi, single and multiple half-wave dipole, piggy back, FMturnstile, incline, flying arrow, phased array, parasitic array andother installations too numerous to mention.

The structure which is shown in FIG. 1 has been designated in itsentirety at 10 and involves in its general organization the usualvertical antenna mast 12, only the upper region of the mast being shownherein. A horizontal boom 14 has its medial region aflixed to the upperend region of the mast by means of a conventional U-clamp assembly 16.The forward end of the boom 14- carries the antenna components proper,these components being designated as a group by the reference numeral18, while the rear end of the bottom carries a single composite two-partreflector component which is designated by the reference numeral 20. Thetransmission line constitutes no part of the present invention and hasnot been disclosed herein. The electrical characteristics of the antennastructure 10 likewise are not pertinent to the present invention sincethey are common to conical antenna structures having the same antennaand reflector components as those illustrated and described. Theseelectrical characteristics will not be set forth, suffice it to say thatthe antenna components 18 are arranged in two groups on opposite sidesof the boom 14, each group being electrically insulated from the boom,as well as from each other, while the two parts of the reflectorcomponent are electrically connected to the boom.

Still referring to FIG. 1, and additionally to FIG. 2, the forward endof the boom has fixedly mounted thereon a two-piece or split insulatinghead 22 including an upper part 24 and a lower part 26, the two partsbeing identical in construction. Each group of antenna componentsconsists of three antenna rods including an upper rod 30, anintermediate rod 32, and a lower rod 34. The various antenna rods arepivotally conencted to the insulating head 22 and individually movablebetween foldable or collapsed positions wherein they extend inparallelism and also extend substantially in parallel relation with theboom, and extended positions wherein they extend outwardly away from oneanother in divergent fanlike fashion at small acute angles to oneanother, as well as extending forwardly and at compound angle ofapproximately 45 with respect to the axis of the boom, while at the sametime, lying in a common vertical plane. The reflector component iscomprised of two reflector rods 36 which are disposed on opposite sidesof the boom 14 and are pivoted to the latter for individual movementbetween folded or collapsed positions wherein they ex= tend parallel tothe boom and extended positions whereinthey are in axial alignment andextend at an angle of with respect to the axis of the boom, as well aslying in? a horizontal plane. The various rods 39, 32, 34 and 36 may beeither tubular or solid, the particular rods dis-' closed herein beingformed from cylindrical tube stock and with pinched-together outer ends.Each of the parts 24 and 26 is in the form of a five-sided ceramic block(see FIGS. 4, 5 and 6) which is recessed as at 38 to receive the forwardend of the boom 14. An elongated rivet 39 extends through the parts 24and :26 and boom 14 and serves to maintain the boom and the insulatinghead 22 in fixedly connected relation.

Each of the antenna rods 34?, 32 and 34 is pivotally mounted on abracket, the rods 3% having brackets 46', the rods 32 having brackets42, and the rods 34 having brackets 44. The six brackets are similar inconfiguration are made from the same set of stamping dies. Hovt ever, inthe final shaping operation, slightly diiferent bending steps areresorted to in the case of the brackets? 40 and 44 to give the properinclinations to the antenna rods 30 and 34 when the latter are extended,as will be described presently. The brackets 42 remain substantiallyplanar and are used as they issue from the stamping dies without furtherbending operations.

The brackets 42 are in the form of generally rectangular sheet metalstampings having proximate end regions which are confined between theupper and lower parts 24 and 26 of the insulating head 22, and havingdistal ends which are provided with inwardly extending notches 48. Arivet 50 extends through one corner of the bracket 42 and through bothparts 24 and 26 of the insulating head 22. A bolt 52 extends through theadjacent corner of the bracket 42 and through both parts 24 and 26 andhas associated therewith a clamping nut 54 and a terminal nut 56. Theterminal nut is employed for attachment to one conductor of atransmission line.

The brackets 44 are similar to the brackets 42, but the proximate endregions of these brackets are bent out of the general plane of thebrackets as indicated at 60 in FIG. 2 and are fastened by the rivets 5t)and bolts 52 to the underneath face of the lower part 26 of theinsulating head 22 on opposite sides thereof. The angle of the bendwhich is effected in the brackets 44 is such that the general planes ofthe body portions of the brackets will determine the angle of downwardinclination of the lower antenna rods 34 when the latter are in theirextended position.

The brackets 40 are also similar to the brackets 42, but the proximateend regions are bent out of the general planes of the brackets asindicated at 64 in FIG. 2 and are fastened by the rivets 50 and bolts 52to the upper face of the upper part 26 of the insulating head 22 onopposite sides thereof. The angle of the bend in this case is such thatthe antenna rods 30 which are pivoted to the brackets will assume thedesired upward inclination when they are extended.

Each bracket 40, 42 and 44 has pivoted thereto a comparatively shortchannel 70 which serves as a reinforcing cradle for the proximate end ofone of the antenna rods 30, 32 or 34 as the case may be. A rivet 72extends through the base part of the channel and through the associatedantenna rod and serves as the fulcrum pin by means of which the channeland rod are pivoted as a unit for swinging movement in the general planeof the bracket.

Interposed between the base part of each channel 70 and its associatedantenna rod is a detent leaf spring 74, the spring projecting outwardlybeyond one end of the channel and having a free down-turned portion 76which is designed for locking cooperation with the notch 48 in thedistal end of the associated bracket. The antenna rod, spring andchannel are thus movable bodily as a unit on the bracket and, in eachinstance, involving the brackets 40, 42 or 44, as the case may be, therod, spring and channel assembly is movable between a retracted positionwherein the antenna rod traverses the bracket diagonally and causes theantenna rod to assume a folded horizontal position Where it extendssubstantially parallel to the axis of the boom 14, and an extendedposition wherein the rod assumes the operative position in which it isillustrated in FIG. 1. In the extended positions of the various antennarods, the three rods on each side of the antenna structure aredivergent. In their collapsed or folded positions, they extend inparallelism. In the extended positions of the various antenna rods 30,32 and 34, the associated detent springs 74 intersect the notches 48 andare confined thereby so that the channels 70 and the antenna rods, whichare nested therein, remain locked in their extended positions. In thefolded position of each antenna rod, the associated detent spring 74overhangs one longitudinal edge of the bracket, bears frictionallyagainst such edge, and serves yieldingly to bias the antenna rod in itsfolded position against outward movement.

The pivotal mountings for the reflector rods 36 are similar to thepivotal mountings for the antenna rods. As shown in FIG. 3, an elongatedbracket in the form of a plate 80 underlies the rear end of the boom 14and extends transversely thereof so as to present lateral portions 82 oneach side of the boom, and an interconnecting semi-cylindrical cradleportion 83. The ends of the lateral portions 82 having inwardlyextending notches 84 and the two reflector rods 36 are pivotallyconnected to such portions by means of pivoted cradle assemblieincluding channels 70, detent leaf springs 74 and rivets 72 identicalwith those previously described in connection with the pivotalconnections for the antenna rods 30, 32 and 34. The two lateral portions82 of the bracket 80 are coplanar and lie in a common horizontal planewhen the antenna structure 10 is in its erected or operative condition.An elongated rivet 36 passes vertically through the end region of theboom 14 and through the semi-cylindrical cradle portion 83 and serves tomaintain the boom and the bracket so in fixedly connected relation. Inthe collapsed or folded positions of the reflector rods 36, they assumehorizontal positions alongside the boom 14 and lie in the generalhorizontal plane of the latter. In their extended positions, thesereflector rods extend substantially at an angle of 90 to the axis of theboom and lie in the same common horizontal plane.

As shown in FIG. 4, the reflector rods in the collapsed or foldedcondition of the antenna structure are embraced by the folded antennarods and all of the rods extend in parallelism as well as parallel tothe axis of the boom 14. In erecting the structure, it is preferablethat the antenna rods 30, 32 and 34 be first unfolded so that there willbe no physical interference with the unfolding of the reflector rods 36.

In FIG. 7 there has been disclosed a slightly modified form of conicalantenna structure embodying the principles of the present invention. Inthis view, only that portion of the structure where the various antennarods converge in the vicinity of the front end of the boom has beenshown and, since the parts involved are similar to those described inconnection with the form of the invention shown in FIG. 2, similarreference numerals but of a higher order have been applied to thecorresponding parts as between the two views.

In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 7, the boom 114 andthe composite two-piece insulating head 122 remain the same as the boom14 and the head 22 previously described. The brackets 140 and 144 aresimilar to the brackets 40 and 44, respectively, with the exception thatthe brackets 140 and 144 are formed with angular proximate end regions164 which are inclined with respect to the axis of elongation of thebrackets. The brackets 142 are identical with the brackets 42. The endreigons 164 are bent out of the general plane of their respectivebrackets and their directions of angularity with respect to the axes ofelongation of the brackets are such that, in the final assembly, theantenna rods 130, 132 and 134 will assume parallel positions whenfolded, but will assume divergent positions around the conical side of asolid angle when the rods are extended. Otherwise, the assemblyillustrated in FIG. 7 is substantially identical with the assemblyillustrated in FIG. 2.

While there has been illustrated and described herein two illustrativeembodiments of the invention, both falling within the class of antennastructures known as conical antennas, it is obvious that a wide varietyof other antenna structures may be accommodated by the use of the pivotand detent arrangement of the present invention including the variousbrackets, cradle-like channels and detent springs. Any desired forwardor rearward inclination of the antenna rods with respect to the axis ofthe boom may be accommodated by increasing or decreasing the angularityof the proximate regions of the brackets to which the antenna rods arepivotally connected. Small departures in such forward or rearwardinclinations may be accommodated by a judicious positioning of thenotches in the outer ends of the brackets. Similarly, any desired upwardor downward inclination of the antenna rods away from the horizontal maybe accommodated by the extent to which the proximate regions of thebrackets are bent out of the general planes of their respectivebrackets. If there are less than three antenna rods on each side of theinsulating head, the head may be made in one piece. If more than threerods are involved on each side of the insulating head, the latter may bemade in multiple sections to accommodate sandwiching of the bracket andhead parts together to the necessary degree of stacking. Finally, by theuse of the present pivot and detent connections, a wide variety ofspecial antenna structures may be assembled including structures havingantenna, reflector or other components which are pivoted to the medialregions of the boom.

The invention, therefore, is not to be limited to the exact arrangementof parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in thisspecification as Various changes in the details of construction may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. Onlyinsofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in theaccompanying claims is the same to be limited.

Having thus described the invention what I claim is new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a foldable antenna structure, a combined pivot and detent assemblyfor pivotally connecting the proximate end of an antenna rod to anantenna boom, said assembly comprising a plate adapted to be fixedlysecured to the boom and having a rectangular flat portion adapted toproject laterally therefrom, the marginal edge of said fiat portionbeing formed with a cradle-like notch therein, a channel member adaptedto receive therein said proximate end of the rod and having a basepivoted to said fiat portion for angular turning movements about an axisnormal to the flat portion and having upstanding channel sides, and adetent spring movable bodily with the channel member and having aportion thereof overhanging the marginal edge of the fiat portion andbearing frictionally against said edge at its region of overhang, saidnotch being disposed in the path of movement of the spring and designedfor removable reception therein of the overhanging portion of thespring.

2. In a foldable antenna structure, the combination set forth in claim 1and wherein the marginal edge of said flat portion is provided with'twostraight-edge portions which extend at a right angle to each other andon which the overhanging portion of the spring is adapted selectively torest.

3. In a foldable antenna structure, a combined pivot and detent assemblyfor pivotally connecting the proximate end of an antenna rod to anantenna boom, said assembly comprising a plate adapted to be fixedlysecured to the boom and to project laterally outwardly therefrom, anopen-ended cradle-like channel member having parallel channel sides anda fiat channel bottom, adapted to receive therein the proximate end ofthe rod with said channel sides straddling the same, a detent springhaving one end region adapted to be interposed between the proximate endof the rod and the channel bottom, a pivot pin adapted to extenddiametrically through the proximate end of the rod, the spring, thechannel bottom with the plate serving pivotally to connect the rod,spring, and channel member to the plate for swinging movements bodily asa unit in the general plane of the plate, said spring having portionsthereof overhanging the marginal edge of the plate, the overhangingportion of the spring bearing frictionally against said marginal edge ofthe plate, said marginal edge having portions thereof which are of lesseccentricity than other portions in relation to the pivotal axis ofswinging movement of the channel member, said spring being adapted totraverse said por tions of the marginal edge during swinging movementsof the channel member whereby the portions of less eccentricity serve tobias the spring to predetermined positions of angularity with respect tothe boom.

4. In a foldable antenna structure, the combination set forth in claim 3and wherein one of said portions of less eccentricity is in the form ofa notch which is formed in said marginal edge at a distal region of thelaterally projecting portion of the plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,492,529 7 Kaplan Dec. 27, 1949 2,680,196 Fox et a1 June 1, 19542,819,463 Vail et al. Jan. 7, 1958 2,847,671 Lieb Aug. 12, 19582,882,080 Burns Apr. 14, 1959 2,926,350 Saul Feb. 23, 1960 2,989,331Bohmuller June 20, 1961

1. IN A FOLDABLE ANTENNA STRUCTURE, A COMBINED PIVOT AND DETENT ASSEMBLYFOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE PROXIMATE END OF AN ANTENNA ROD TO ANANTENNA BOOM, SAID ASSEMBLY COMPRISING A PLATE ADAPTED TO BE FIXEDLYSECURED TO THE BOOM AND HAVING A RECTANGULAR FLAT PORTION ADAPTED TOPROJECT LATERALLY THEREFROM, THE MARGINAL EDGE OF SAID FLAT PORTIONBEING FORMED WITH A CRADLE-LIKE NOTCH THEREIN, A CHANNEL MEMBER ADAPTEDTO RECEIVE THEREIN SAID PROXIMATE END OF THE ROD AND HAVING A BASEPIVOTED TO SAID FLAT PORTION FOR ANGULAR TURNING MOVEMENTS ABOUT AN AXISNORMAL TO THE FLAT PORTION AND HAVING UPSTANDING CHANNEL SIDES, AND ADETENT SPRING MOVABLE BODILY WITH THE CHANNEL MEMBER AND HAVING APORTION THEREOF OVERHANGING THE MARGINAL EDGE OF THE FLAT PORTION ANDBEARING FRICTIONALLY AGAINST SAID EDGE AT ITS REGION OF OVERHANG, SAIDNOTCH BEING DISPOSED IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT OF THE SPRING AND DESIGNEDFOR REMOVABLE RECEPTION THEREIN OF THE OVERHANGING PORTION OF THESPRING.